The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1887-04-06

udlC tO nave elu ulsdppoihtSo.
"Wc'll trust in Providence" said Mrs.
Holcomb, simply. "We know we're do
ing what's right, taking Malvina; and 1
don't believe but what it'll be for the
best"
"You're always just the samc-always
real good, said the deacon, with feeling,
as he picked up his hat and started for
the barn.
And Mrs. Holcomb reflected that she
could hardly be better than the deacon.
"She couldn't have had better day
for it nohow," said the deacon, de-
lightedly.
1t was a week later. He stood at the
sitting-room window, looking out at the
snowy, sunny world and rubbing his
work-roughened hands with quiet salts
faction.
| From the kitchen there came the odors
of simmering apple-saucc. of boiling tur-
nips and of hot miuce-pies.
From the sofa came the sound of low
toned conversation, proceeding from the
corner where Kate and Mark Hill were
sitting, rather close together-Mark, be-
ing prospective member of the family,
dropped in to dinner occasionally.
Up the road there came the jingle Of
sleigh-bells.
The deacon watched the little, old
fashioned cutter eagerly as it came nearer.
For the deacons resolution had been
faithfully carried out. He had written
cordial invitation to poor Malvina, amid
the mild sncers of his brothers, Seth and
William, to be-sure, and the astonished
disapproval OF such of his neighbors as
were in possession of the facts; but with
the laughing consent of his children, and
with the warm aiding and abetting of his
wife.
There had come prompt response to
his letter-a brief note, stating Miss Nal
vina Holcomb's acceptance of her uncle's
hospitality; and stating, further, that she
would start directly, and would arrive
few days later.
The day had come.
The driver of the little cutter, turning
up at the Ehitching- post with flourish,
was Gene; and the small bundle of green
veil and waterproof cloak which he lift
ed down into the snow was his Cousin
Malvina.
The deacon hurried to the door; Mrs.
Holcomb stopped in the act of mashing
the turnips and rushed out to the porch;
and Kate followed hastily, with Mark
Hill close behind her.
The bundle had made its way up the
snowy path. The green veil had become
disarranged, and there looked out from
under it a sharp little face, with bright,
dark eyes, and two rows of faded, cork
screw curls.
"We're glad to see you, Malvina"
said the deacon; while Mrs. Holcomb
pulled her indoors kindly, and helped to
undo the voluminous waterproof cloak.
1t was queer little woman that stood
warming her small hands at the kitchen
stove and looking sharply from one to
another, when the last wrap had been
removed.
She was certainly past fifty-so Kate
mentally decided. She also decided that
long earrings and juvenile necklace,
and tight curls, besprinkled with gray,
were hardly becoming to her faded lit
tie face; and that her checked silk dress
was not in the best of taste.
But she felt warm impulse toward
her Cousin Malvina. There was kindly
sparkle in her eyes as size looked around
the modest table-Mrs. Holcomb had
taken up the dinner with hospitable haste
at the deacon, carving, with beam
ing face; at Kate and Mark, side by side
of course, and engaged at the moment in
an affectionate alteration; at Mrs. Hol-
comb dishing the apple-sauce; and at
Gene, who had come in, cold and snowy,
from the barn.
She did not appear to be much of
talker She answered their inquiries IN
chirpy monosyllableS, turning her gaze
meditatively around the small, bare room,
and through the door to the calico
covered sofa and the well-worn rag
carpet of the sitting-room.
But she wore o look of quiet satisfac-
ton and enjoyment, and by the time the
last of the mincc-pics had disappeared,
and the dishes been washed briskly by
Kate's nimble hands, and they were all
gathered around the sitting-room stove,
it had deepened into positive warmth,
which softened her sharp eyes and gave
a pink tinge to her faded cheeks.
II should Judge, Uncle Holcomb," ,"
said Malvina, turning upon the deacon
81 should judge, now, that you amt so
we'll off as you might be2"
1t was an embarrassing inquiry. Mark
Hill looked at his boots and pretended
not to have heard it. and Kate and Gene
exchanged indignant glanccs.
Surely any other remark would have
come better from their Cousin Malvina,
under the circumstances.
"Well, no." said the deacon, meekly.
"And 1 suppose" Me'vina continued,
calmly-'T suppose Uncle Seth and Uncle
William are considerably better off, now
Amt they2"
"Well, yes, "said the deacon, ''they be-"
$50 the colonel said. always called
him the colonel" said Malvina.
And there was suspicion of mistiness
in her eyes as she spoke the name.
There was a silence, broken sharply by
the violent jingling of Malvina's long
arrings, as she sat straight up In her
chair suddenly.
81 shan't wait another minute!" she
said, decidedly. "The colonel advised
me not to be hasty, to look into things a
little first. But 1 couldn't know you any
better if I waited year, you dear, good
MANI
His listeners stared at each other in
silent alarm; and Kate edged little
nearer to Mark.
Was Malvina going out of her sensesl
"'ve been imposing on you shame
fully" Malvina went on, energetically-